Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Extra
Dry SherryA brilliant wine for very little money. Let’s face
it, Sherry is wildly unfashionable still, despite efforts from all quarters to
get punters to change their minds. But this Fino style is versatile, fresh and
food compatible, and with only 15% alcohol it isn’t any more intoxicating than
many new world table wines. This is a complex, nutty wine with a bracing,
marine-like freshness and good acidity. The mid-palate is kind of flat, but this
is the sherry style. It’s got lovely freshness, so keep it well chilled and
drink it within a few days of opening. (Tesco £4.22/half, £7.06/full bottle)

Mick
Morris Liqueur Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia
I’m going to be horribly unfashionable and recommend three sweet, sticky wines
this week. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face. This brown/amber wine has a
sweet, open nose with some herbiness, leading to a supersweet palate with notes
of tea and raisins. (£6.99 Tesco)

Matua North Island Red 2001 New Zealand
It’s rare to find a New Zealand red at this price point, and doubly rare to
find one as appealing as this. A blend of Pinotage, Malbec, Cabernetand Merlot, it shows lots of savoury berry fruit with good acidity.
(£4.99)

Peter Lehmann Grenache
2002 Barossa, AustraliaQuite pale in colour for a red wine, this is fruity, juicy and appealing
with spicy edged berry fruit. Very easy to drink and quite delicious. (£4.99)

Fairview
Goats do Roam 2001, South AfricaSouth
African reds are deservedly popular at the moment, and this brilliantly
successful blend of several different red grape varieties shows why. A vivid
red/purple colour, attractive ripe, sweet raspberry fruit dominates, but
there’s also some savoury, meaty complexity. Good acidity and not at all
confected, this has to be one of the very best reds at this price point. The
2002 vintage is now arriving, and this is equally good. (£4.99)

Tesco Simply Riesling
2002 Mosel Saar Ruwer, GermanyIt’s rare to find a tasty wine at £2.99, but this medium-sweet Riesling
is clean and appealing with some melony fruit and nice acidity. (£2.99)

JL Wolf Wachenheimer
Riesling 2001 Pfalz, GermanyA lovely full flavoured white wine with a citrussy intensity to the fruit.
Good acidity keeps things lively, and because it’s dry this would make a great
fish wine. Worth every penny. (£8.49)

Yalumba Y Viognier
2002 South AustraliaYalumba are the Australian specialists with the trendy Viognier grape, and
this dry white shows lovely peach and pear fruit with a floral edge, together
with a soft, rich texture. (£6.99)

Beyerskloof Synergy Cape Blend 2001 Stellenbosch, South
AfricaCape blends are the new thing in South Africa – reds made with at
least 30% Pinotage in the mix, which seems to bring out
the best in this unusual variety. This example shows classy, herby berry
fruit with good structure and a hint of green olives. (£8.99)

Hilltop
Riverview Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio 2001, Tolna Region, HungaryA wine that tries to hide its Hungarian origins a little, but which offers
lots of flavour for the money. Clean, pure fruity nose with a hint of smoky
bacon from the Pinot Grigio, and some fresh honeyed fruit. The palate is dry and
crisp with good acidity and lots of character. Made in a modern style. (£3.99)